Officials announce Costco, CityGate plans are moving forward

The Costello Group’s $200 million CityGate project appears to be a go, with county and state leaders announcing Tuesday that plans are moving forward with the construction of Rochester’s first Costco Wholesale Corp. store.

The mixed-use development at the corner of Westfall and East Henrietta roads will also include a 150-room hotel, a 300-unit apartment complex and additional retail and office space. It is expected to create up to 2,500 jobs.

“The CityGate project will create thousands of jobs and greater economic opportunity for Rochester and the surrounding communities,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “Establishing Costco as the anchor tenant is a great step forward for this project and will help attract future developments and investments to the region.”

In order to make the CityGate development possible, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services has granted authority for Monroe County to move its Children’s Detention Center, a county facility for youths awaiting criminal trial or family court proceedings, from the future Costco site to the state-owned Industry Residential Center campus in Rush.

A county budget impasse had threatened to stall the CDC relocation project, but county and city officials worked together to reach an agreement and are scheduled to vote tonight to support the funding authorization that will move the CDC. The approval of this phased move will allow Monroe County to improve its CDC facilities and meet the timeline required by the developer to allow Costco to open by October, a release from Cuomo’s office stated.

Costco has proposed a 150,000-square-foot store on the site, requiring the county’s CDC to be moved, the site leveled and all utilities in place in order for the project to move forward.